A federal high court in Osogbo, Osun State on Wednesday sentenced a final year student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH), Lawal Olakunle, to one-year imprisonment for duping an American woman.
Olakunle was arraigned on two counts including internet fraud and unlawful possession of N282,068.80 (800USD), which was traced to the bank account of the convict.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecutor, Sulaeman Bashir, had told the court that the offence committed by the convict contravened the provision of section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering Act, 2011.
He also tendered in evidence, the iPhone 8plus, money recovered from the accused, statement of account and his confessional statement.
Olakunle, having pleaded guilty, opted for plea bargain before the court.
His counsel, Adebayo Adedapo, while pleading with the court for mercy, said his client opted for plea bargain since he realised his mistake, and if forgiven, he would not return to the crime.
He urged the court to temper justice with mercy as he said Olakunle is a Final year student of LAUTECH, who would have been on his one-year mandatory NYSC duty if not for the outbreak of COVID-19.
In his ruling, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola found Olakunle guilty and sentenced him to twelve months imprisonment starting from November 26, 2019.
Justice Ayoola also ruled that items recovered from the convict should be sold in auction and the proceeds be remitted, alongside the recovered N282,068.80, to the Treasury Single Account of the Federal Government.
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